Modestine

[fay66]

Hi Robin,
Pleased things are looking up for you Margaret & "Modestine" and hopefully I will have the pleasure of seeing her again in fine fettle at the Revival Meeting.
Not wishing to rub salt in the wound, but how's the Fanalone?

Brian
8227

[Dilambdaman]

Thanks Brian.

Not had time to get to the Fanalone yet but hope to do so soon.

Robin.

[chugga boom]

hows the engine coming along?

[Dilambdaman]

Thanks for your interest James.

JEL appear to have done a great job on the engine in a remarkably short time. It's now back in the car and I hope to be up and running by the weekend.

Robin.

[chugga boom]

well hope everything goes to plan for you keep us all posted on progress

[Dilambdaman]

Well, managed to get the engine running yesterday and it sounds fine but I have to confess to still feeling very apprehensive. Probably to do with not having followed the advice of some who believed that the only way forward was a £10,000 engine rebuild.

Hope to get her fully clothed and road tested today - MOT Friday!

Robin.

[rogerelias]

The best of luck Robin. You deserve a break(no pun intended), hope it goes ok. Regards Roger

[chugga boom]

yep good luck, i'm sure it will all be fine now, the firm you used seem very knowlagable and have a good reputation, at the end of it robin these engine's were designed to run on white metal bearings and modern oil is far better , as my dad will tell you his astura engine has covered 15>20k trouble free for the last 20yrs and thats all origional spec, hope all goes well for you

[Dilambdaman]

Frustrating last 24 hrs with the engine only firing up after a good dose of Easy Start on the air filter.

Morris Parry to the rescue again (that man should be knighted!) patiently taking me through checking of the valve timing which was well adrift. Reset that using a special tool which locks the camshaft in the correct position for the valves of number 1 cylinder when it is on TDC (or PMS in Italian!). This tool came with the car when I bought it and until now I had no idea what it was for.

So, maybe tomorrow for that road test eh?

Robin.

[Dilambdaman]

This is the ingenious tool used to lock the camshaft in the correct position for setting the valve timing on the Dilambda.

Robin.

[fay66]

This is the ingenious tool used to lock the camshaft in the correct position for setting the valve timing on the Dilambda.

Robin.

Hi Robin,
does it just slide under the camshaft then you tighten the horizontal bolt to lock the camshaft with the moveable wedge?

Interesting shape at the top of the cylinder!

Brian
8227

[Dilambdaman]

That's right Brian, you get the camshaft roughly in the right position, undo the two slotted screws and remove that side of the V and slide the block under the camshaft pushing the adjustable side of the V onto the cam lobe. Replace the bit you removed and by tightening the nut on the sliding part the cam is located in the correct position for TDC. With the flywheel at the TDC mark you can then fit the timing chain and set the vernier adjustment on the camshaft sprocket.

Robin.

[Dilambdaman]

Well, got to a test run yesterday and she's still suffering from very low oil pressure. Ominous noises from the bottom end so switched off and towed her home. Fortunately not far.

Dropped the sump but all seems to be OK. Will check the oil pressure relief valve tomorrow and may try to borrow an oil pump from a Dilambda under restoration.

Upshot is that the French rally is looking in doubt which is a shame as the Seilers are coming over from SA. Shades of Turin 2006 all over again!

So, anyone know of a cheap and cheerful Lancia for sale - Thema or similar?

Robin.

[fay66]

Hi Robin,
Not particularily cheap BUT

http://www.bourgas.com/lancia/thema

Rare Series 3 Thema great looking reliable luxury car, last Turbo model
imported, probably best there is. 108k miles, great mechanical state, very
capable of slingshot acceleration as required. FSH by top Lancia specialists
, new brake disks/pads all round, tax, MOT. Clean and shiny inside and out
(garaged),  aircon, viscodrive, abs, self dip mirror, cream Alcantara, wood
trim etc, all elecs work. Driver's seat not torn, no white bubbles on the
wheels, minor discoloration on inside edge of rear arches. This has been my
car for the last 11 years, I have enjoyed it greatly, hope it will go to
another club member so I can still see it on Italian car days.

£1899 or less

tel 01223 515012
mob 07803 926414

Brian
8227

[Dilambdaman]

Up and running again with great oil pressure! Seems it was the oil pressure relief valve which is a curious component seeming to defy all logic. Morris Parry to the rescue again taking me through it's idiosyncrasies.

So, one worry out of the way and another rears it's ugly head! The ominous noise on my previous test run which I assumed was bottom end appears to be camshaft orientated.

Robin.